The Bazaruto Archipelago Na􀆟onal Park (BANP) is composed of five islands – Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, Santa Carolina and Bangue (the last two islands are not inhabited). The park covers an area of about 1,430 square kilometers, including both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The marine ecosystem is particularly important for local communities, as it supports small-scale fisheries, which are a crucial source of livelihoods and food security across the region.

Small-scale fisheries (SSF) in the BANP are a significant economic activity, providing employment and income to approximately 7,000 people, distributed across these coastal communities (Sitone, Zenguelemo, Pangaia, Bavene, Chizunguene, Cheringoma and Magaruque). The fisheries activity in the region is mostly done through artisanal operations that target a wide range of species, including fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.

However, the activity faces several challenges that threaten the sustainability and the livelihoods of the fishers and their families. These challenges include overfishing, illegal fishing, and weak governance and management systems.

In response to these challenges, the BANP management and the African Parks Network have initiated several interventions aiming at promoting sustainable SSF practices and improving the livelihoods of fishers and their communities. These interventions include the development of a detailed value chain and socio-economic assessment across the archipelago, as well as a thorough review and understanding of the existing governance arrangements and, its integration within the broader fisheries industry in the district and across the province.